Colin Montgomerie urges Masters rookies to enjoy the Augusta experience

With 20 rookies teeing up at The 80th Masters, Colin Montgomerie reflects on his debut at Augusta and offers some useful advice for this week's debutants.

There are 20 Masters debutants in the field this week, and if I could offer them one piece of advice above any other, it would be simply: "Enjoy the experience".

I made my first appearance at Augusta National in 1992 - it might have been 24 years ago, but it is still very much fresh in my memory. I was third in the Order of Merit on the European Tour at the time, and that earned my place. And it was fantastic when the invite arrived from the Masters committee.

Only one man has ever won the Masters at the first attempt, so I think what you've got to do is experience it, enjoy it, and if it does work out well it's a bonus.

I had a good, solid week and finished inside the top 40 on two under, and the most important thing I learned was to be patient. It's almost impossible to avoid getting ahead of yourself, but it's vital to draw yourself back and realise Masters week is a marathon, not a sprint.

You're going to make things harder for yourself if you go for too many shots early on and try to make birdies happen. There's nothing wrong with keeping it cautious and a 71 or 70 on the first day will do just fine.

I think the hardest part of dealing with my Masters debut was trying not to be overwhelmed by the whole aura of Augusta. You get distracted by the whole occasion, the whole scene, but I managed to make the cut and I was quite happy with a tie for 38th place at the end of the week.

The one thing that surprises everybody when they first come here is how hilly the course is, and how dramatic the whole place is. The first view of Amen Corner in particular is something very special, and the unique nature of Augusta makes it such a joy to be here.

The course has changed from tee to green since my debut, it's obviously much longer now, but the greens haven't changed at all and getting to grips with the putting surfaces is what it's all about.

The biggest test for the rookies is coping with the severity of the greens, getting the pace right and trying not to leave six-foot putts for par, because you won't make them all.

I enjoyed the experience as a player in 15 appearances, and I still enjoy coming here to commentate for Sky Sports. I did an analysis of the 13th hole before the par-three competition, and it was interesting to hear Augusta chairman Billy Payne confirm they were considering changes to that hole.

I think the modern game demands that they lengthen the 13th - you cannot be going into par-fives with a wedge like Bubba can do there, and he's not the only one.

The only other option is to draw back the golf ball, and you would think - in terms of cost - it would be more common sense to limit how far the ball goes than it would to have to buy land to extend tees.